Lynnfield 4-11

10 WEEKLYNEWS.NET -

10 WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 APRIL 12, 2018 PHOTO | KERIANNE ALLAIN Senior captain Jack Razzaboni springs into action during the Pioneers’ win over Bedford. PHOTO | ANNE MARIE TOBIN Junior Ashley Barrett heads toward the net during last week’s girls win over Wakefield. Pioneer girls tame Wakefield LACROSSE ROUNDUP ByAnne Marie Tobin You know it’s been a tough spring when a 38 degree day with chilly winds turns out to be “the best day of the season so far.” So said Lynnfield girls lacrosse coach Ethan Blanchette Saturday morning following the Pioneers’ 9-4 win over host Wakefield. The Pioneers (2-1) had the misfortune of being the first Lynnfield team to open the spring season April 3 when they lost to Middlesex League power Melrose, 9-7. Game conditions at Melrose High were brutal. “It was 38 degrees with rain and sleet,” said Blanchette. “Then our second game against Mystic Valley Thursday (won by Lynnfield, 17-7) was even worse, as it never got above 40 and the wind made the wind chill feel like it was the coldest day of winter. Today, was great in comparison.” The boys team (1-0) opened its season on Thursday at home with an 8-4 win over Bedford. Gianluca Alfe and Jackson Hammersley shined with three goals each, while Zach Huynh, in his first varsity start in goal, delivered an impressive debut. “Overall I was very pleased with the way they competed today,” said coach Joe Papagni. “Weather conditions were brutal, but it feels good to get out and see what we have. It was good to get a win and I liked our defense today, it makes me happy. We won’t really know what we have until we get into our league schedule when we will find out how good we are.” Both teams are back in action tomorrow afternoon with the girls entertaining Triton at home at 3:45 and the boys taking on Triton at Triton, also at 3:45. GIRLS LACROSSE Lynnfield 9, Wakefield 4 At Landrigan Field, the Pioneers got a huge boost from Olivia Sarni, who notched a hat trick, and goaltender Grace Magno, who had “her best game of the year” according to Blanchette. Senior captain Liv Smyrnios scored twice and had one assist, while Lexine Bucci, Ashley Barrett (4 ground balls), Jen Flynn and Gracie Sperling (5 ground balls) also scored. Lynnfield led 4-1 at the half, but the Warriors came out strong in the second half and cut the deficit to 5-3 three minutes into the second half. Flynn, off a free position shot, and Sarni (a pretty wrap around goal) gave the Pioneers some breathing room, 7-3 with about 13 minutes to play. After Wakefield closed to 7-4 with eight minutes left, Sperling (6:51) and Smyrnios (:12) put the game out of reach to secure the win. “I didn’t think we played particularly well today but we always have tough games against Wakefield, especially here at their place, so it was good to get the win,” said Blanchette. “We were sloppy today. We are better in terms of passing and catching than what we showed. Part of it is the weather, like yesterday when it snowed I had a whole practice planned and had to cancel it. We just have no practice time to work on the things we need to so we are a little behind where we wanted to be.” Blanchette gave a shout out to defender Brianna Barrett, Magno and Liz Sykes. “Brianna also had a great game today, she made a few nice plays for us as did Grace in goal, who made some key saves for us and also came out and challenged. “Liz is not flashy so she doesn’t stand out but she doesn’t make too many mistakes. Fundamentally, she is our most solid player. She is smart and always in the right spot. She really knows what she is doing out there.” Lynnfield 17, Mystic Valley 7 On Thursday, Lynnfield scored early and often, taking a 10-4 lead into halftime on its way to its first win of the season. Sarni had the hot-hand for the Pioneers as she scored six goals. Lynnfield dominated the draws with Sperling and Smyrnios each winning five of Lynnfield’s 15 draw controls. Sperling (3 goals) also led the team with seven ground balls while Smyrnios (3 caused turnovers) scored four goals and notched an assist and Ashley Barrett scored three goals. Melrose 9, Lynnfield 7 Against Melrose, Lynnfield jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Red Raiders came back strong, scoring the next three goals and taking a 4-3 lead into halftime. Melrose built their lead to 6-3 before Lynnfield closed the gap at 7-6 midway through the second-half, but that was as close as the Pioneers would come. Sperling and Tori Morelli did an excellent job in the center circle, each winning five draws each for Lynnfield, which won 13 of 18 draws. Ashley Barrett scored three goals and had two assists, while senior Liv Smyrnios scored twice. Smyrnios and Morelli also picked-up a team-high five ground balls. BOYS LACROSSE Lynnfield 8, Bedford 4 In Thursday’s season opener at Pioneer Stadium, Lynnfield jumped out to a 6-0 lead after three quarters and coasted home to an easy win. “Our goalie (Huynh) competed like heck and he had some great saves,” said Papagni. “Also, our faceoff guy, Pete Razzaboni did a great job, I think he lost just one the whole day and that’s huge.” The Pioneers struck first with a goal by Alfe at the 9:30 mark of the first quarter. Five minutes later, Jackson Hammersley made it 2-0 after a feed from Peter Look. Alfe and Hammersley combined for two quick strikes within a 22-second span late in the half to send the Pioneers into halftime with a 4-0 lead. Alfe’s third goal of the game made it 5-0 at the 6:36 mark of the third quarter. Two minutes later, Huynh robbed from point blank range to keep the shutout intact. With 2:23 to go, Look made it 6-0. Huynh closed out the quarter with another big save with under 30 seconds to go. Nick Metrano and Hammersley added fourth quarter goals to seal the win. Papagni was pleased considering it was the Pioneer’s first game of the season. “It was tough trying to get the right people on with the first-year players as it does get confusing especially in the first game, especially since we’ve only had one scrimmage.”

APRIL 12, 2018 WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 11 Softball team has up and down week By Anne Marie Tobin The Lynnfield softball team had an up and down week, splitting two games. Monday, one bad inning was all it took to drop its home opener, 9-4, to visiting Hamilton-Wenham. The Pioneers carried a 4-3 lead into the top of the sixth inning, but three fielding errors opened the door for the Generals, who went on to plate six runs and take the lead, 9-4. The Pioneers were outhit 10-5. Hayley O’Brien took the hard luck loss. In seven innings, she walked six and struck out five. “We just broke down defensively in that one inning and you can’t do that against a good hitting team like Hamilton-Wenham,” said Lynnfield coach Peter Marinelli. “You have to make plays and we have to do a better job. We are so long and have a long way to go, it’s just too bad that Hayley doesn’t have more experience behind her.” Marinelli said the bright spot was the play of sophomore Breanna Serabian in center field. The Pioneers opened the 2018 season last Thursday in frigid temperatures that never got above 40 degrees. With wind gusts topping the 20 m.p.h. mark, conditions were anything but suitable for an outdoor softball game, or any other game for that matter, but the Pioneers persevered and romped to an easy win 16-3 win over host East Boston. “It was tough for both pitchers as with the cold it was difficult to hold onto the ball,” said Marinelli. “In the end, Hayley just held on better than their pitcher.” The Pioneers punched out 15 hits with senior captain and O’Brien leading the attack with two home runs, five RBI and two walks. Freshman shortstop Chloe Shapleigh and third baseman Jillian DelBene had impressive debuts with each banging out three base hits in four at-bats, while sophomore first baseman Samantha Lebruska, sophomore left fielder Mia Daly were each 2-for-3. Junior catcher Allie Wing, sophomore right fielder Jenna Freni and freshman Reilly Ganter had one hit each, while Serabian worked three free passes to get on base. O’Brien started and earned the win in the circle. She struck out five and walked six (5 in the second inning). “I was very happy with the way we were aggressive at the plate and swing the bats well,” said Marinelli. Kasasa_3x7RateColor.ai 1 3/30/2018 9:58:01 AM “Even some of our outs were hit hard. We weren’t tested defensively and know we will be once we hit the tough part of our schedule this week and next with league play.” It’s a rarity for coaches to compliment umpires, but Marinelli gave credit where it was was due. “The umpires were great as they allowed us to wear sweatshirts and try to stay warm for the entire game,” he said. “Sometimes they can be sticklers, but they were cold too, so they knew the situation. All I know is I can’t stand this weather. Last year it didn’t warm up until the second or third week in May and right now all I can say is I should have stayed in Florida. To come back from there to this is brutal.” Girls tennis team opens by beating Fenwick By Anne Marie Tobin PEABODY — The Lynnfield and Bishop Fenwick girls tennis teams opened their seasons this past Monday under sunny, albeit, chilly, skies at Bishop Fenwick. On paper at least, the Crusaders appeared to have an edge with four returning starters and a fifth with some varsity experience, while the Pioneers returned only one veteran. Nonetheless, the Pioneers did what they always seem to do under coach Craig Stone, and that is find a way to win, 4-1, but the match was closer than the final score would suggest. Two of the five matches went three sets, another was decided in a tie-breaker and a fourth match was decided by only four games. “With so many new players, the big thing to take away from this match is knowing that you can compete,” said Stone. “We won the match but are capable of playing better, but Fenwick is a perennial tournament team so it was a good win. Fenwick was easily within the grasp of being able to win this match and we knew that we were not playing a weak team by any means, so it will be interesting the next time we play them comes around in May.” Fenwick coach Paula Hannon, now in her fourth season as head coach of the Crusaders, is also looking forward to the rematch. “All of the matches were competitive,” she said. “Two three setters, one tie break, and all five matches had a set at least as close as 6-4. Lynnfield graduated some excellent college level talent last year, but with such a strong program, they are just able to reload every year. We look forward to playing them again in late May.” Fenwick’s only point was secured by senior captain Kerry Kircher, who defeated freshman Megan Nevils by injury forfeit, 2-6, 6-3, 2-0, in the first singles match. Nevils is the second in her family to step into the position as a freshman, succeeding older sister Kelley who manned the spot in 2013. “Coming in as a freshman and competing is a credit to her,” Stone said. “It’s not easy when you are competing at the varsity level for the first time and you find yourself in the first singles spot, but she is an athlete and she did get off to a great start.” The second singles match between Lynnfield junior captain Alex Vittiglio and Fenwick’s Brenna Waldinger needed three sets before Vittiglio finally prevailed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1. Vittiglio is the only Lynnfield player with varsity experience. Last year, she played doubles primarily, but this year she is slated to play singles. “It’s not easy to make that jump from doubles to singles, but Alexa has worked very hard in the off season and has taken pride in her conditioning,” Stone said. “No doubt, she is mentally tougher in terms of playing point to point and you could see that today.” Lynnfield exchange student Bella Ferreira took the third singles match over Niomh Walshe, 6-4, 6-1. “She is our senior surprise,” Stone said. “I had no idea who she was, but the kids said she could hit the ball. “She is the perfect third singles player who loves to rally from the baseline and doesn’t get riled. She needs to learn to work the points more and use a little more strategy, but she is a pleasant addition to the lineup.” Lynnfield swept both doubles matches. Sophomore Gillian Skelley and partner Emma Gallucci, a freshman eked out a win over Abby Gaumann and Anna Young at first doubles, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), while the sophomore duo of Claire Yang and Celeste Joly prevailed over Maria O’Donnell and Anna Krause at second doubles, 6-3, 6-4. Lynnfield’s next match is at home tomorrow against Cape Ann League rival Hamilton-Wenham, while the Crusaders next match is tomorrow at Danvers. PHOTO | ANNE MARIE TOBIN Alexa Vittiglio won at second singles in a 3-set match. AUTO | HOME | BUSINESS | LIFE • We make shopping for insurance EASY. • Ask for a quote! DISCOUNTS available. Visit us at three locations: LYNNFIELD 550 Summer Street WAKEFIELD 374 Main Street MALDEN 1012 Eastern Avenue Call 781.322.2800 or email info@supinoinsurance.com www.supinoinsurance.com